Arts Beat | June 2019

June 1: Heartland Festival Orchestra presents “A Triple Shot of Tchaikovsky.” 7:30 p.m. Five Points Washington. 444-8222. June 1: Black Velvet. 9 p.m. MD’s Sports Bar & Grill. 691-2025. June 1: The Golden Fleece. 10 p.m. Kenny’s Westside Pub. 676-1693.…

Serendipity | Brinley Mae

Nearly seven years ago we excitedly welcomed our sixth grandchild, Brinley Mae, into our family. Just like the lyrics from the 1974 hit song, “Cat’s in the Cradle,” she “came to the world in the usual way.” That word “usual”…

Environmental News Briefs

Antibiotic use expands to citrus Antibiotic resistance in humans has been linked to overuse with livestock, but now the EPA is defying objections from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration to allow…

West Peoria plans for July Fourth

June means plans are in full swing for the 49th celebration of the West Peoria July Fourth parade and flag raising. The parade starts at 10 a.m. July Fourth and wends its way through West Peoria. This event is well…

Labor Roundup | June 2019

Four-fifths of voters want U.S.-made rebuilding of infrastructure, but not Donald Trump’s Mexican Wall, according to a poll from the Alliance for American Manufacturing. Only 34 percent of voters (7 percent of Democrats, 22 percent of independents and 69 percent…

Banking on the arts

Most people didn’t hear about some big news this spring. It was good news but wasn’t a surprise, say local arts advocates. But the absence of reporting on it seems to some like the heavy-equipment industry making unexpected gains but…

When “the best of the best” is arrested

Yunek Moore

Yunek Moore fulfilled every dream a parent could have. She was president of her class at Peoria High School, member of the National Honor Society, enrolled in after-school activities and was college bound. Then, inexplicably, she was singled out at…

Bill Knight | Ugliness in April elections

Dirty politics, surly opposition and ugly social media all surfaced around April’s election. Some races had no challengers; some couldn’t fill vacancies; some unqualified candidates resorted to name-calling or paying others for negative appeals. Willingness to serve takes time, money…

Straight Talk | Bullies? Are you kidding?

The Bradley basketball season is over after a surprising finish by Coach Brian Wardle and his Braves. They won the Missouri Valley tournament and gave nationally ranked Michigan State a run for the money before losing in the NCAA tournament…

Op-Ed | Right to harm plays well in Peoria

BY KAREN HUDSON Illinois Citizens for Clean Air & Water recently hosted the Midwest premiere of “Right to Harm” at the Peoria Riverfront Museum Giant Screen Theater. The film reveals the multiple externalities created by concentrated animal feeding operations or…

The Lion’s Den | 13th

This month we review the Oscar-nominated documentary 13th by filmmaker Ava DuVernay. This film takes an in-depth look at the industrial prison complex and the 13th Amendment which contributes to mass incarceration. The film highlights the role that politics and…

Serendipity | You CAN Go Home Again

Days after a wonderful visit with a good friend who lives in Maryland and was here seeing family, the quote about not being able to go home again popped into my mind. I googled it to see others’ thoughts, and…

Nature Rambles | Ubiquitous cottonwoods

cottonwood

Sometimes trees will surprise you. Even those that are so common that they go virtually unnoticed. Take the Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) for example. It is a tree that grows from the east coast of the United States all the…

Arts Beat | May 2019

MUSIC May 1 and each Wednesday: John Miller. 6 p.m. Rhythm Kitchen. 676-9668. May 1-17: Gerald M. Brookhart Arts in Education Spring Celebration. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Peoria County Courthouse Plaza. 672-6906. May 1: Bradley String Chamber Music, 7:30 p.m.…